What would make you call me to design your landscape?

In My Humble Opinion
21

[QUOTE=featherlou]
Ooh, purty. I don’t really like Acer negundo all that much - it’s just a common tree around here. I like Acer ginnala much more. :smiley:

Good advice about people paying for design services. I can see that as an issue - “You want to charge me $1000 for that one drawing?!?” Well, yeah, that drawing took me a month to draw, it’s accurate to scale, it tells the landscaper exactly how to build what you want, it takes into account all of your requirements for your yard for the next 20 years, never mind the year in school I just spent learning how to make that drawing. It’s like something I read about people who make and sell crafts; everyone looks at it and says, “I could do that,” but they never do. I guess that comes back to educating the clients again.
[/QUOTE]

I had an interior designer come out when we bought our furniture. They would deduct the cost of the design services IF we purchased the furniture from them. You could do something like that, I’d think.

22

[QUOTE=featherlou]
Your experience with a designer was horrible, Gabriela -
[/QUOTE]

Thank you. I think it was just him. You wouldn’t be like that.

[QUOTE=featherlou]
I’m not a big fan of water-sucking plants and trees in arid Calgary, but if that’s what you wanted, that’s what you should get. Part of my job as a designer is client education - there are usually area-appropriate alternatives to most plants which would thrive here instead of needing to be babysat. A great example of this is cedars - cedars don’t thrive here because of the desiccating chinooks. I can use a columnar juniper for nearly the same effect as a cedar, but they will be much hardier here.
[/QUOTE]

Well, as you could probably guess from the 90-foot magnolia, I’m not in Calgary.

23

I emailed a landscape architect the other day about getting an estimate on our front yard. They never even bothered to respond. So my only advice is don’t ignore potential customers.

24

[QUOTE=featherlou]
Hmm, all good points. Nava, that’s the reason that we learn all plant names in Latin - when I say I’m going to plant an Acer negundo in your yard, it’s the same plant around the world.

[/QUOTE]

Glad to hear it. I don’t know what it is, though, and I sure my mother wouldn’t either (she’s the one who actually likes plants, I just water them and I know which ones she likes). My Latin is limited to a very distant year of high school and it was more linked to De Bello Gallico than to landscaping. You show me a picture of rosemary, I’ll happily identify it as romero and I’ll be able to tell you it’s a hadrdy bush that works well in dry regions and can be used as a condiment - but what is it called in Latin? No idea.

You will run into people who, like me, have an “actual language problem” and also into people who, like my SIL, know what they want but can’t explain it. She will describe it again and again and you show her samples that fit her description but “that’s not it”, and you ask her what doesn’t she like about that particular sample (so you can get a better description) but all she can say is “I don’t know!” It frustrates the heck out of her. And I use her as an example, and thanks God she’s got the guts to say “I don’t like it” even if she can’t explain why - but the people who accept something that’s “not quite it”, you do it, and when it’s all done say “that’s not what I wanted” - oh. My. God.

25

If you could partner with a subcontractor who would do the actual install–and I’m talking a reliable, reputable, talented, licensed and bonded installer–you’re apt to get much more business, because you’re reducing the unknowns and smoothing the path for sometimes skittish customers. Anything you do that will reduce the hassles will increase your business. Providing people with killer sketches doesn’t really take them from “before” to “after.” Customers don’t want sketches; they want a beautifully landscaped yard. One-stop shopping is what it’s all about, these days.

IMHO.

26

[QUOTE=gabriela]
<snip>Well, as you could probably guess from the 90-foot magnolia, I’m not in Calgary.
[/QUOTE]

I understand that; my point was just that I have my personal biases, but I wouldn’t let them stop me from designing the yard that the customer wanted.

27

Don’t be an asshole.

I am currently in an argument with a “landscaper” in my area. He planted a tree that was not looking too healthy last year, and when I protested, he told me he would replace the tree this year if it didn’t bloom.

It has bloomed. Sort of. About half the branches have no leaves on them at all, the other half do. It looks like crap, and the wife is displeased and wants it out. I agree. I contacted this bozo 3 months ago, and he promised to do the work. This is a 15-30 minute job. Come out, pull the tree plant new one in same hole. That’s it.

He won’t come. He won’t return calls. He’s a true jackass. I don’t even care anymore about him, but the last conversation we had he agreed that he would replace the tree. I just needed to be patient. So, I am hesitant to replace the tree for fear that his illegal immigrant crew (his words, not mine) won’t come by, rip out my new tree and replace it with some other piece of shit.

The sad thing is I had extra work for him to do. He just doesn’t give a shit. His words? “It’s one tree. I’ll get to it when I get to it.” The funny thing is I went to another local tree farm and this guy also does business with this bozo, and has the same complaints. Late payments, no return calls, etc. etc. While I was there trying to work a deal where he will bring me a new tree (I’m paying for it), another woman came to the farm and was complaining about the same guy!

It is truly unbelievable how arrogant this jackass can get. And his distance from his tree farm to my house? Less than 4 miles. He could get this done on a Saturday morning by himself if he wanted.

My only point. Don’t be a jerk. Treat people with respect. Return phone calls. Be as accessible as possible, but don’t ignore people. You will build a good reputation in no time. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me the story about my tree and how much potential business this guy has lost. It’s nothing personal. He’s a jerk. And I’m obviously not the only one who has had a bad experience with him. I’ve offered the sign-in-the-yard advertising for him. I’ve offered him follow-up work. He just doesn’t give a hoot. Given that the tree was put in by my builder and he picks the worst, cheapest, most unreliable sub-contractors, I shouldn’t be too surprised. I am thinking of taking him to small claims court. Not for the money, but because he needs to understand that he can’t jerk people around. He’s a knuckle-dragger, though, so I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Oh, and free estimates are a must. I don’t get pissy with people that may go over the estimate, but it must come with an explaination. But I generally don’t pay for estimates on landscape work.

28

Don’t be an asshole.

I am currently in an argument with a “landscaper” in my area. He planted a tree that was not looking too healthy last year, and when I protested, he told me he would replace the tree this year if it didn’t bloom.

It has bloomed. Sort of. About half the branches have no leaves on them at all, the other half do. It looks like crap, and the wife is displeased and wants it out. I agree. I contacted this bozo 3 months ago, and he promised to do the work. This is a 15-30 minute job. Come out, pull the tree, plant new one in same hole. That’s it. No muss, no fuss. And he’s doing work less than a half-mile from my house, so he could do it at the beginning or end of the day.

He won’t come. He won’t return calls. He’s a true jackass. I don’t even care anymore about him, but the last conversation we had he agreed that he would replace the tree (I told him, if you are going to do it, fine. If you aren’t, fine. Just let me know and give me a time frame). I just needed to be patient. So, I am hesitant to replace the tree for fear that his illegal immigrant crew (his words, not mine) won’t come by, rip out my new tree and replace it with some other piece of shit. All I want is for him to call me back so I can end this nonsense. And he won’t return my call. I want him to commit to staying off of my property. I’ve visited his place of business a few times, but he’s never there. I mean, WTF?

The sad thing is I had extra work for him to do. He just doesn’t give a shit. His words? “It’s one tree. I’ll get to it when I get to it.” The funny thing is I went to another local tree farm and this guy also does business with this bozo, and has the same complaints. Late payments, no return calls, etc. etc. While I was there (new guy) trying to work a deal where he will bring me a new tree (I’m paying for it), another woman came to the farm and was complaining about the same guy!

It is truly unbelievable how arrogant this jackass can get. And his distance from his tree farm to my house? Less than 4 miles. He could get this done on a Saturday morning by himself if he wanted.

My only point. Don’t be a jerk. Treat people with respect. Return phone calls. Be as accessible as possible, and don’t ignore people. You will build a good reputation in no time. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me the story about my tree and how much potential business this guy has lost. It’s nothing personal to me. He’s a jerk. And I’m obviously not the only one who has had a bad experience with him. I’ve offered the sign-in-the-yard advertising for him. I’ve offered him follow-up work. He just doesn’t give a hoot. Given that the tree was put in by my builder and he picks the worst, cheapest, most unreliable sub-contractors, I shouldn’t be too surprised. I am thinking of taking him to small claims court. Not for the money, but because he needs to understand that he can’t jerk people around. He’s a knuckle-dragger, though, so I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Oh, and free estimates are a must. I don’t get pissy with people that may go over the estimate, but it must come with an explaination. But I generally don’t pay for estimates on landscape work.

29

[QUOTE=Kalhoun]
I watch all those shows on HGTV and you are going to make a shitload of money in this field.
[/QUOTE]

Sure, if you’re good, have an established client base, a truck, equipment, a crew. . .you can make a shitload of money.

Other than that, you’re just a guy who getting plants at cost.

featherlou – I know that you’re asking, “what can I put in my billboard?” but I just don’t think it’s that easy. First of all, do you have a horticulture or a landscape-design degree?

I worked for a landscaping company for a year once. The way to break into the field seems to be to work for one. Dig ditches like the rest of the schmucks for six months. Let your boss know that you’re interested in design.

Some day, a client will say, “wow, now that we did the back yard, I think I might like this side plot done.”

When your boss says, “shit, I’m full up on work”.

You say, “Let me take it.” And then you design it, meet with the client, and work all day Saturday, Sunday, and after putting in your 8 hours with the landscape company. And, do it for cheap.

At least that’s how I saw it work. I worked with two different people with aspirations such as yours. . .

One was a hardworking guy with a knack for stonework. He made his own connections. Whenever he was at a friends house, he’d be suggesting patios and walkways and stone walls. He talked to his teachers (he was also in community college). He talked to people in bars. He did his girlfriend’s patio. He did his mom’s patio. He was project leader on stonework with the landdscape company. He took pictures of completed projects. He ended up getting a lot of work. He was making an extra thousand a month just by working on weekends.

The other was a women with a landscape architecture degree (something like that). 90% of the time I knew her, she was doing the same shit we were doing. Then, the bosses started throwing some stuff her way. She started out doing designs on small jobs, or on sections of jobs. She eventually got tossed some complete designs. Then, the boss would go over the designs with her. I’m actually not sure what she’s doing now, but she didnt’ start out by just putting up posters.

Landscape design is a tough, competitive racket, and good work gets rewarded with references. If you can break in by putting up a few posters, more power to you, but I just don’t see it being that easy.

30

Since you’re talking about a billboard, it needs to be quick. So how about something along the lines of “Landscaping that works with your budget”?

That lets your potential customers know that you can do flexible plans that won’t cost more than they can afford, and that you work with them rather than just coughing up a plan and saying “take it or leave it.”

31

A highly visible display plot might be a better sell then a billboard. Find a local park or merchant that has a high traffic corner and bad/ugly landscaping. Offer to work with them to come up with a plan, in exchange for advertising rights. Maybe offer to do some of the shovel work as well. A sudden major improvement to a corner I go by all the time will catch my eye. A simple but clear sign saying “designed by featherlou” would put you on my list of people to check out.

32

Hmm, even more good ideas.

I don’t know how tough it is to break into landscape design here, Trunk. One of my instructors has been doing it for 7 years, and she said she’s never advertised, and had all the work she could handle. She might be the exception rather than the rule, but it is heartening to hear a story like hers. Calgary is in the middle of a major housing boom, too - I imagine anything to do with real estate is much hotter here right now than a centre where there wasn’t this much activity going on. Your point is taken, though - I’ll just have to wait and see if I get any clients fairly easily, or if I have to go to great lengths to bust into this business.

33

My first thought was - Do you have a friend, neighbour, coworker who is looking for some landscape design? Perhaps you could do it for them for a big discount, if they let you put a sign up and use them as a reference.

I think Calgary is a GREAT place for this type of business, and if you’re passionate about it and have the start-up money to get going, you’ll probably be really successful.

Someone suggested a phone consultation - I think that is a great idea. The area is so big you could be driving an hour each way to give someone free advice, which they could then run with and do themselves, leaving you S.O.L. I also like the suggestion to take the initial in-person consultation fee off the price of the job if they hire you.

Once you have a couple of jobs under your belt, what about contacting realtors of properties that might benefit from your service, or approaching people selling their own homes, or if you notice a home in your area that has recently been sold, contacting the new owners?

Have you gotten advice from your instructor on quoting jobs, and setting up a payment schedule, etc? I would hate to see you get screwed.

As for your bulletin board question - I would have a big clear “before” and “after” picture. For this obviously you would need at least one project behind you. Then just a simple line stating - “Like what you see? Call Featherlou for a free phone consultation”.

I also agree with the webpage suggestion. Get it going, and then you can add references as you get them, photos, etc.

Best of luck - it sounds like a really exciting venture!

34

Don’t be an ass.

I am currently in an argument with a “landscaper” in my area. He planted a tree that was not looking too healthy last year, and when I protested, he told me he would replace the tree this year if it didn’t bloom.

It has bloomed. Sort of. About half the branches have no leaves on them at all, the other half do. It looks like crap, and the wife is displeased and wants it out. I agree. I contacted this bozo 3 months ago, and he promised to do the work. This is a 15-30 minute job. Come out, pull the tree, plant new one in same hole. That’s it. No muss, no fuss. And he’s doing work less than a half-mile from my house, so he could do it at the beginning or end of the day.

He won’t come. He won’t return calls. He’s a true jackass. I don’t even care anymore about him, but the last conversation we had he agreed that he would replace the tree (I told him, if you are going to do it, fine. If you aren’t, fine. Just let me know and give me a time frame). I just needed to be patient. So, I am hesitant to replace the tree for fear that his illegal immigrant crew (his words, not mine) won’t come by, rip out my new tree and replace it with some other piece of shit. All I want is for him to call me back so I can end this nonsense. And he won’t return my call. I want him to commit to staying off of my property. I’ve visited his place of business a few times, but he’s never there. I mean, WTF?

The sad thing is I had extra work for him to do. He just doesn’t give a shit. His words? “It’s one tree. I’ll get to it when I get to it.” The funny thing is I went to another local tree farm and this guy also does business with this bozo, and has the same complaints. Late payments, no return calls, etc. etc. While I was there (new guy) trying to work a deal where he will bring me a new tree (I’m paying for it), another woman came to the farm and was complaining about the same guy!

It is truly unbelievable how arrogant this jackass can get. And his distance from his tree farm to my house? Less than 4 miles. He could get this done on a Saturday morning by himself if he wanted.

My only point. Don’t be a jerk. Treat people with respect. Return phone calls. Be as accessible as possible, and don’t ignore people. You will build a good reputation in no time. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me the story about my tree and how much potential business this guy has lost. It’s nothing personal to me. He’s a jerk. And I’m obviously not the only one who has had a bad experience with him. I’ve offered the sign-in-the-yard advertising for him. I’ve offered him follow-up work. He just doesn’t give a hoot. Given that the tree was put in by my builder and he picks the worst, cheapest, most unreliable sub-contractors, I shouldn’t be too surprised. I am thinking of taking him to small claims court. Not for the money, but because he needs to understand that he can’t jerk people around. He’s a knuckle-dragger, though, so I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Oh, and free estimates are a must. I don’t get pissy with people that may go over the estimate, but it must come with an explaination. But I generally don’t pay for estimates on landscape work.

35

a 6 hour double post?

How the hell did that happen?

(hangs head in shame).